How to Get Grease Out of Towels
After you use a towel to clean up grease, you may instinctively put it into the washing machine without treating it first. You need to treat the grease stains immediately before you wash them to protect your towels from the stains.
Cooking, automotive and lubricating grease can discolor the towels, and the oil can leave an unpleasant smell.
Things You Will Need
- Cornstarch
- Toothbrush or soft-bristled brush
- Laundry pretreatment
- Washcloth
- White vinegar
- Laundry detergent
Warning
Always test a cleaning solution in a small, inconspicuous area to ensure that it does not damage the fabric.
-
Sprinkle cornstarch over the grease on the towels. Allow the cornstarch to sit for five minutes to absorb the grease.
-
Brush the cornstarch off the grease stains with an old toothbrush or a soft-bristled brush into a trash can.
-
Apply a laundry pretreatment to the stain. Blot the stain with a washcloth to work the pretreatment into the grease stain. Follow the instructions on the product to determine how long to allow it to sit on the stain.
-
Place the towels into the washing machine.
-
Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the laundry machine in addition to your regular detergent. This will remove any lingering odors from the towels.
-
Launder the towels according to their care labels. Hang them to dry because the dryer will cause any stains that you did not remove to become permanent. If you still notice the stains, repeat the stain-removal process.
The Drip Cap
- After you use a towel to clean up grease, you may instinctively put it into the washing machine without treating it first.
- Sprinkle cornstarch over the grease on the towels.
- Blot the stain with a washcloth to work the pretreatment into the grease stain.
- Hang them to dry because the dryer will cause any stains that you did not remove to become permanent.
References
Writer Bio
Angela LaFollette holds a Bachelor of Arts in advertising with a minor in political science from Marshall University. LaFollette found her passion for writing during an internship as a reporter for "The West Virginia Standard" in 2007. She has more than six years of writing experience and specializes in topics in garden and pets.
Photo Credits
- towels on line image by Andrew Breeden from Fotolia.com
- towels on line image by Andrew Breeden from Fotolia.com
More Articles
